IBD patients on immunosuppressants 'more prone to infections'

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IBD patients on immunosuppressants 'more prone to infections'

08-Apr-08

Healthcare Republic (press release) - London,UK*

http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/GP/800366/IBD-patients-

immunosuppressants-more-prone-infections/

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who take multiple

immunosuppressants are up to 14 times more likely to develop

infections than patients who do not use the drugs, US research

suggests.

Current NICE guidance recommends that immunosuppresants be used to

control inflammation in those suffering from IBD.

For the latest study researchers examined the medical records of 300

IBD patients, 100 of who had contracted opportunistic infections

arising from viral, fungal, bacterial and mycobacterial organisms.

Among the 300 patients, 133 were taking at least one

immunosuppressant and 36 were taking two or more.

The researchers found that patients taking one immunosuppressive

medication, corticosteroid, azathioprine or infliximab, were three

times more likely to develop opportunistic infections than those

prescribed none.

However, patients taking two or three immunosuppressants were 14

times more likely to develop infections than those taking none.

Patients aged 50 and older were also three times more likely to

develop infections than younger patients.

sanjay.tanday@...

Gastroenterology 2008; 134: 929-936